N-Glucuronidation in vitro of six 4-arylalkyl-1H-imidazoles (both enantiomers of medetomidine, detomidine, atipamezole, and two other closely related compounds) by rat, dog, and human liver microsomes and by four expressed human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoenzymes was studied. Human liver microsomes formed N-glucuronides of 4-arylalkyl-1H-imidazoles with high activity, with apparent V(max) v...

Fifteen adult emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) anesthetic events were successfully undertaken with the use of thiafentanil oxalate (A3080) 0.175 mg/kg i.m. (SD 0.026) and medetomidine 0.092 mg/kg i.m. (SD 0.009) via remote injection. Following induction, the birds were transported to the clinic, where a venous blood gas sample was taken for analysis, which indicated a respiratory acidosis, with a...

OBJECTIVE To assess the potential of a thermal carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to explore antinociception in pain-free cats. STUDY DESIGN Experimental, prospective, blinded, randomized study. ANIMALS Sixty healthy adult female cats with a (mean±standard deviation) weight of 3.3±0.6 kg. METHODS Cats were systematically allocated to one of six treatments: saline 0.2 mL per cat; morphine 0.5 mg k...

We conducted thirteen immobilizations of previously collared hibernating two- to four-year-old brown bears (Ursus arctos) weighing 21-66 kg in central Sweden in winter 2010 and 2011 for comparative physiology research. Here we report, for the first time, an effective protocol for the capture and anesthesia of free-ranging brown bears during hibernation and an assessment of the disturbance the c...

Targeted deletion or selective pharmacological inhibition of α(2C)-adrenoceptors in mice results in increased brain tissue levels of dopamine and its precursor l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA), without significant changes in l-DOPA synthesis. l-DOPA uptake is considered the rate-limiting step in dopamine synthesis in the kidney. Since α(2C)-adrenoceptors may influence the transport of l-DO...

BACKGROUND Despite 5-7 months of physical inactivity during hibernation, brown bears (Ursus arctos) are able to cope with physiological conditions that would be detrimental to humans. During hibernation, the tissue metabolic demands fall to 25% of the active state. Our objective was to assess cardiac function associated with metabolic depression in the hibernating vs. active states in free-rang...

BACKGROUND Propofol is a widely used injectable anesthetic agent for induction and short-term maintenance in dogs. A multi-dose formulation of propofol (MDP) has been developed which includes 2% benzyl alcohol as a preservative. In order to document the use of the product under clinical conditions, MDP was tested in a prospective clinical trial conducted at six sites within the United States. O...

Electroretinography (ERG) is a reliable diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of retinal disease. It measures electric potentials occurring in the retina in response to light stimulation. In this study, we examined the normal electroretinogram using the Handheld Multispecies ERG (HMsERG) in Shih Tzu dogs. ERG recordings were performed in twelve eyes of six healthy Shih Tzu dogs. Dogs were anestheti...

Loss of drug content during cell culture transport experiment can lead to misinterpretations in permeability analysis. This study analyses drug adsorption to various plastic containers and drug retention in cultured cells under in vitro conditions. The loss of various drugs to polystyrene tubes and well plates was compared to polypropylene and glass tubes both in deionised water and buffer solu...